Self-aligning bearing



Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. KENNEDY 2,521,731

SELF-ALIGNING BEARING Filed Dec. 26, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 0 2% 25 o O 1111 35 o a 1/6 37 o I 4.17 n u n o g JNVENTOR.

J E I l amed Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. KENNEDY.

SELF-ALIGNING BEARING 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. KENNEDY 2,521,731

SELF-ALIGNING BEARING Filed Dec. 26, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 701141;, will;

I l I IN V EN TOR.

f 27. Kennedy Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. KENNEDY SELF-ALIGNING BEARING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 INVENTOR. f E [1 0016:? MA 2/ Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNI-TED ifS I -2,521,'731 *SELF KL'IGNINGB'EARI'NG rJoseplnEsKe'nnedy, *New Yoi'k/Nl Y.

Apfilicatihri' Dcember 2/6, 1947; Serial No: 794,602

This invention relates to selfaliriing bearinlg s *partioularly adapted for supportingfeylindrical "rotary apparatus, sue'h as k'ilns, sereens, tube niills and-the-like.

1 It has been' the-practice to *rotatablw support cylindrical apparatus, *such as *i'o'tary l'r iins, scre'ens, =tube *mi11s= and the' likefiby a "-'seri'es of pairs "of rollers engaging riding rings m'ounted '--on the cylindr-ical appar-atus in longitudinal 's'pac'e d re1atidn :to each other. Due'to the length of I the cylindricalapparatus;' the' roller-s and rid- Min-g rings are easilyforced out of ver-tical and horizontal ialinement with reach other resulting I-inundue wear'ot eitherzor both-the rollersiand t riding :rings; which necessitates e:replacement--- of the rollers and riding rings.

It :is an object of the invention: toovercome rthis disadvantage. of '--the spresent atype ;ofrl1ers :by providing: a self-aliningibearmg arranged with a. bearing ring to engage the ridingiringsof'L-the cylindricala-apparatus--and: adapted to be: maintained in vertical alinementwith the riding rings by the lateral shifting -or tiltingmovement: of --the bearing caused-by theshifting Of-the-Weight of the cylindrical apparatus.

. In the operation of kilns 'it .iSIthe-L-practice tO have the kiln -inC1inB--- fI'Om}One-- end --to the opposite end and this inclination is accomplished by adjusting the supporting trollers. \A great ,amount vof time and experience'are required-to adjust the rollers-torhavethe-kiln inclinenat the proper angle.

It is another object of the inventionnto reduce the amount of time required to adjilsttheinclination of'a kilnlbylprovi'ding' slf-alihing"bearingsor ro'lle'rs.

"It is another objectof theinvention togprovide a self-aliningbea'ring comprising a shaft having a spherical portion and "-a bearing "member having 'a bearing "surface "corresponding to "the curvature of'the'spherioal portion andeng'aged on the spherical portion wh'ereby"the shaft arid bearing menibefhave rotary *and' tilting movements relative to each other.

Another 'object "of' the "invention-ism provide the'shaftwith ducts terminatin'g'inthe' periphery of the spherical portion and connected finfcomrminlcationwith a" source of supply of lubricant to lubricate "under pressure the contacting or bearing surfaces i of the spherical i portion "of 'the "shaft an'd the bearing member.

It is a further object of the invention-to: pro- Wide the'bea'rmg member in two-se'ctionstdtacilitate mounting *of the bearing men'iber on the l heiical portion :0: "the-shat and unite said sections by a bearing-"ring forn'iiii Part or the hearing meniber to=-en age -a-"ri ding-" ring ofthe ei liri drie'alapparatus.

j A""further object 'of" theinventionistd provide the bearing 1 member with lubricant collecting i1 chambers at the opposite *s'ides adapted to communicate with and'fdeliver excess inbii'caht to -a -'-return duct -of the lubricant-"ducts in*the'-shaft of-the-bearing.

Other' objects and "advantages 'of'the invention will --appear *in the-detailed description "of the -irivention.

i In thedrawir'igs accompanying and forming a' part of this application,"'1 i;qure- 1 is arr endlevational view of a-"rotary kiin's'upported *by a liair m'if the s'elf alin'ing bearings iljrming*the 'e'rhbodiment ofthis' invention.

Eigura S is a; plan view of-a shaft formingpa'rt of-thebearing.

:Figure' i -is -an-"elevatitinal view of the hearing l lookir igiat the -bottoin 'of l igurefl with portions of theshaft 'bear-ing member, bearing ring and supporting structurein sebtiori toshb the structureland relation ofsaid par-ts and' 'apair o'f du'ets for deliver in'g lubrieaiit to the -coritacting =siiritaees of ithe spl ierical portion bf the shaft 'and thabearing'member.

---Figure 51 is a view similar to Fig-t re: 4' isupporting structure removed andshoWing" zb'ricant ureturn -duct in :communication '2. lubricantcollecting chamber in lubricant retainvingringslof the bearing: member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view 0f 5 a: bearing lin section supporting a askiln wand '=BhGWI11g a :scraper relative 'to; l a-iportion of the bearing ring --traveling" through :a -water and'x-oil trough.

:Eigure 7 "is a diagrammatic 1 view of a series ofipairs of bearings 'conn'ecte'd in communication :With a circulating 1 lubricating system.

The" embodiment: of theinvention: is: shownuin eoniunotion with iairotary kiln-#8 havingiws'e'ri'es of riding rings 9 spaced longitudinally aof 715116 The; kiln-is rotatably supportedat: the- :riding rings .thereOf-byatpair of hearings or rol'lers engaging each: riding ring at opposite sides 0f the-dongltudinalw axis r-ofstheikiln. Each -ioftsaid hearings or rollers comprises raishaft having a spherically shaped center portion H, :circul'ar portions; l2:;atethe oppositefzsidesiiofithe spherical rporti'onian'd end portions arranged with acur ved upper surf ace F and. side":and bottomistraiht br hat surfaces M extendin at right afi'g les 'to eaiih other. "The shaftis supperte'd at -the erid i'portions I3, I4 to extend parallelly of and at one side of the longitudinal axis of the kiln 8 by engaging and securing the bottom straight surfaces I4 on base plates I5 by bolts [6. Vertical tongues II depending from the base plates I5 are engaged between and secured to two parallel beams I8 as by bolts I9. The beams I8 are partially embedded in a foundation 26 and supported by transverse I beams 2I embedded in the foundation on opposite'sidesof an oil and water trough 22 in the foundation, as shown in Figures 4 and 6. To take-up lateral thrust of the kiln and prevent the shaft from being moved laterally on the base plates I5 by the weight of the kiln, each end portion I3, I4 of the shaft is provided with an adjusting screw having a head 23 at one end arranged with openings 24 extending transversely therethrough for the engagement therein of an adjusting bar 25, as shown in Figure 4. The opposite end ofthe screw engages a recess 26 in one of the side fiat faces of the opposite end portions of the shaft, as shown in Figure 2. The adjusting screw is adjustably mounted in a sleeve 21 secured in a thrust block 28 mounted on an end portion of the base plate l5.

This lateral thrust is also taken-up by a thrust key 29 engaged in a recess 39 in the beams I8 to abut the end edge of the base plate I5 and the thrust block 28, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

To facilitate handling of the bearing when completely assembled, the end portions of the shaft are provided with hoisting bar engaging holes 3|, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

A bearing member is mounted on the spherical portion I I of the shaft to turn freely thereon and to facilitate mounting of said member on the spherical portion, it is arranged in two corresponding sections 32 and 33 of annular shape having the inner peripheral surface of transverse arcuate form corresponding to the curvature of the spherical portion II, as shown at 34. The outer peripheral surface of the two sections in mated position is arranged of channel shape in cross section by an annular flange 35 at the outer side of each section. The mating edges of the sections 32 and 33 are arranged with corresponding recesses for the engagement of a sealing member 36 to provide a lubricant seal at said mating edges. The bearing member sections 32 and 33 are retained on the spherical portion I I in mating position by a bearing ring 31 engaged in theperipheral channel formed by the flanges 35 and secured to said flanges by bolts 38 engaged in the flanges and screw threaded in the bearing ring 31 with the outer peripheral portion of the bearing ring extending beyond the flanges to en- .gage and support the riding ring 9 of the kiln,

as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. The bearing member is mounted on the spherical portion II of the shaft before the shaft is mounted on'the base plates I5.

To provide free rotary movement of the bearing member about the axis of the shaft and tilting movements of the bearing member toward and away from said axis, the bearing surface 34 of the bearing member and the periphery of the spherical portion of the shaft are lubricated by a suitable lubricant, such as mineral oil. The lubricant is supplied to said surface by a pair of ducts or bores 39 and 40 extending through the opposite end portions of the shaft toward and terminating at one side of the vertical center of the shaft and having vertical extensions 4| and 42, respectively, extending in parallel spacedrela- -cal portion II of the shaft and the bearing surface 34 of the bearing member sections 32 and 33, there are provided annular grooves 47 and 48 concentric of each other and the outlets of the vertical extensions 4I and 42. The inner annular grooves 48 are connected to said outlets by a series of grooves 49 extending radially from the outlets to said inner annular grooves and forming communications between said outlets and inner annular grooves, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6. The annular grooves 41 and 48 are connected in communication with each other by a series of grooves 56 extending radially of said annular grooves, so that the lubricant will flow from the vertical extensions 4| and 42 through the radial grooves 49 to the annular grooves 48 and through the radial grooves 50 to the annular grooves 41. The lubricant will fill and overflow said grooves 4l50 and by the rotation of the bearing member sections 32 and 33 will be distributed over the periphery of the spherical portion II and the bearing surface 34 of said bearing member sections. The lubricant is further distributed over the spherical portion II and bearing surface 34 by grooves 5| in the spherical portion II extending in the same plane parallelly of the axis of the shaft and spaced from each other. 1

The lubricant is delivered under pressure from the reservoir 45 to the ducts 39, 49 vertical extensions 4I, 42 and grooves 4'I--5Ii by one of a plurality of pumps indicated in a general way as a pair of pumps 52 and 53 connected in communication with the conduit 46 and reservoir 45 through pipes 54 and 55, respectively, and actuated by electric motors 56 and 57, respectively, as shown in Figure 7. Automatic control mechanism is interposed in the section of the pipes 54 and 55 between the pumps 52 and 53 and conduit 46 to close the communicationbetween pump 52 and conduit 46 and open the circuit of the motor 56 while maintaining communication between pump 53 and conduit 46 and the motor 51 energized, andconversely shut ofl the motor 51 and the communication between the pump 53 and conduit 46, and energize motor 56 and open communication between pump 52 and conduit 46 should pump '53 become inoperative.

Said control mechanism comprises electric switches 58 and 59 connected in the electric circuits of the motors 51 and 56 through conductors 60 and 6|, respectively. The movable contact of each switch is normally actuated by spring pressure to circuit closing position and actuated to circuit opening position by the pressure in the pipeline of the pump actuated by the motor in the circuit of the other switch This is accomplished. by closed end cylinders 62 and 63 having one end connected in communication with thepipes 54,and 55 through branch pipe connections 64 and 65, respectively, Pistons 66 and v6! are slidably mounted in the cylinders 62 as iand-y63 respectively, andshaver;qrodsrGB rianditil extending fromvthe vends ,of: the. cylinders Brand 63 opposite the ends connected 1 tothe ;branch pipes 64 and 65, respectively. Theripistonrods r68 g2L-Dd 69 arepivotally connected-to Vanfintervmediate portion of .arms 'lfl rand H havingeone -end.;pivotally [mounted on a :fixedssupport, :as shownat- 12 inFigure 7 -and the opposite;-.ends oflsaid; arms adapted to carry thegimovableocon- -tacts 10f the switches '58 and 159, respectively. :The pistons L65 and 61 are .yieldingly -.urged itoaward the a ends of theficylinders itil andn63z coninect'edto the branch pipesafi4uand 65 Ibysprings 13 in said cylinders compressed between the -;oppositeend of the cylinders and. the pistons, :whereby the switches a 58 and 59 are normally :;maintained in circuit closing :position. :As :shown inriFigure' 7,:the,:pump 53 is forcing-lubrri'cantt, from the reservoir 545 through the :pipe i55s'and the conduit 46-to thebearings, for the treason the circuit of the motor -51 is closed by :switch:58. The pressure in the pipe 55Zforces the pistonifil into the cylinder '63 againstthe spring" l3t in said cyIinder -GS and actuatesthe switch 59 toopen the circuit of motor 52and thereby stopping the operationof the pump-52. :Shouldthepump 53 failfon-anyreason; such as clogging or-failure in the motor '51, the pressure inethe cylinder =53 will drop thereby per- 'mit'ting the piston 51 to assume its normal lowermost position under-the influence ofthe spring13 in said cylinder 63 and actuating the switch 59 to close the circuit of the -motor56 and place the pump 52 inoperation to force lubricant from the reservoir 45 through pipe'54and conduit 45 to thebearings. 'Iheoperationof the pump 52 forces piston-66 into'the cylinder 62 against the force of the spring"!!! insaid cylinder and actuates the switch 58 to open the electric circuit of the motor 51iand stop the operation of thepump 53topermit repair of said pump". or motor. v 1 t I. l a

To assure a positive stoppage *of the fiow-in the pipe ,of the inoperative pump, there are provided solenoid operated valves 14 and interposedin the pipes 54 and5'5, respectivelyiand having the coil of the solenoid connected in the-circuit of, the switches"58 and 59andithe motors 51 and 56 through conductors .15 and 11, respectively. The energization of thel'solenoids actuate the valves to close the-pipes54 and 55 and the valves are" actuated by a-spring to open position'when the solenoids are de-energlzed, so that in the positions shown in Figure '7, the valve 15 is in open position and the valve 14 is in close position, whereby the pump 53 forces lubricant through the pipe 55 and the pipe 54 is closed.

To prevent excessive pressures in the pipes 54 and 55 and the conduit 46, pressure regulating valves '16 and T! are interposed in the pipes 54 and 55 between the pumps 52, 53 and cylinders 52, 63 and havin excessive pressure outlets or drains connected through pipes 18 and 19 to a vent pipe 89 having an outlet terminating in the reservoir whereby excessive lubricant is returned to the reservoir.

The pumps 52 and 53 are manually shut-off from the supply conduit 46 by manually actuated valves 8| and 82 interposed in the pipes 54 and between the pumps and the pressure regulating valves 16 and 11.

To prevent a back flow of lubricant, there are provided check valves 83 and 84 in the pipes #54 and/r55 :between the solenoldeactuatedfvalve's -14 and-1.5 anduthe supplyr conduit-'46."

? z'l o r assure-t f a supplyiof i cleang-lubricantnto the bearings, "there :are. provided ;ifil-ters-85 at the t, inlet ends: :of; the: pipes Shandy 55.; in theqresfervoir and a filter 8B in ;the zrconduit e46 adj acents to 1* thepipes 54 .-and;55..'

i-pheric temperatureythe lubricant may be: rendered more; fluid-.byoanelectric heating :element in the reservoir; as-indicated 'imaizgener-al ;wayyat 81 in Figure 7. To providewa supply or -lubricant sat" a low a temperature toilthe wbearings, the; lubri- "cantis cooledrprioritoits deliverypto the pipes43 and 44 by, iprovidingi a: coolingvjacket :88 encircling the portion of:the:.conduit-45 adjacent to' the pipes-:43. and l i i ,and3connected to awsource of ,supply*oficoolingimedium, such: as'watergthrough inlettp-ipe :89 and outlet pipetQiiconnectcddn communication to'rthe opposite:- ends on the .-ja'.'cket' 8.'l,

: whereby there is .a rconstant Y circulation 1 of the cooling medium throughzthejacket. 'Thewjacket The pressure andaflow 'of thelubricanttto the bearings are further controlled by; pressure a: reducingrvalves 9| interposedinthe connections between the pipes 43, stand; suppl conduit 146 and havingexcessive pressureori lubricant outlets connected by: pipesElZ tothevent-pipeltfl, :whereby the excessive lubricant:is'returned tothelrese'rvoir. Flow regulating valves 93 and 54 iare interposed in the pipes 43: and '44 with. valves 93' havingexcessive pressure or lubricant outlets 1 connected to the pipeswtzs to return said :pressure or "lubricant to the :reservoir 45 through the vent pipemflo. The valves-K94 have excessive pressure or lubricant outlets connected to ther vent pipe-J80 throughipipesiz95. r .c p :The: excess :lubricant ini thezbearingxis returned to the reservoir 452 through aduct'orbore 95 extending: through one: end l2-'- -l'4 or the, shaft in parallel spaced relationto the ductisil and on the side-of the-axis of-theshaft oppositethe side on which rthe'duct 3921s positioned, as -shownin Eigures 3 and .5, and the' inner end of the duct- '56 terminating beyond .the vertical or transverse 'center of the shafts and arranged withtwo 'diverg ing extensions 91 terminating in: recesses 9 8' in theiperiphery ofsthe spherical portion constituting 'enlarged inletsifor the lubricantreturn duct .95. lIhe "lubricant is collected at theqower' section of the spherical portion II by a circumferential groove 99, Figure 4, in said spherical portion intersecting the recesses 98, as shown in Figure 6. The excess lubricant is also directed to the recesses 98 by a lubricant collecting chamber I00 in an annular member or ring IIJI mounted on the outer free side of each of the bearing member sections 32 and 33 by bolts I02 engaged in a fiat portion of the ring Hll at the outer side of the chamber I00, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The inner face of the rings llll adjacent to the inner periphery thereof is arranged with a series of grooves I03 with the edges of the walls of the grooves engaging the spherical portion ll above the recesses 98 and the groove 99 to form a seal and retain the lubricant on said spherical portion Within the area engaged by the bearing member sections 32 and 33. The pressure of the lubricant being fed through the ducts 39, 40, vertical extensions 4|, 42, pipes 43, 44, conduit 46 and pipe 54 or 55 will force the excess lubricant through opposite end of the pipe I04 connected in communication with a lubricant return conduit I having its outlet end terminating in' the reservoir 45, as shown in Figure '7. To prevent depositing of foreign matter in the reservoir, the conduit I05 is provided with an elongated filter, as shown in a general way at I08 in Figure '7, of a capacity to assure the complete removal of all the foreign matter from the lubricant.

In Figure 7, there is illustrated a series of pairs of bearings representing the bearings supporting a kiln to show the connections of said bearings in the described lubricating system.

To maintain the riding rings 5 of the kiln 8 and the bearing rings 31 of the bearings in clean condition, the peripheral portion of the bearings travel through an oil and water bath in the trough 22 in the foundation below each bearing. To prevent adhesion of foreign matter on the bearing rings 31 and transference of said matter to the riding rings 9, said foreign matter is removed from each ring 31 by a scraper III! of angle or V shape in cross section having one longitudinal edge flanged, as at I08, and a boss I09 on the exterior face of the angle thereof. The scraper is pivotally mounted on a side wall of the trough 22 by a lever I I 0 having a bifurcated member I I I at one end pivotally supported on an ear portion II2 extending between the bifurcation legs of the bifurcated member from a plate H3 secured to the foundation, as at I I4 in Figures 2 and 6. The scraper I0! is pivotally mounted on the bifurcated member I I I by pivotally connecting the boss I09 between the bifurcation legs of the bifurcated member, as at H5. The straight edge and flanged edge I08 of the scraper I01 are maintained in engagement with the bearing ring 31 by a weight IIB adjustably mounted on a horizontal end portion II! of the lever III) and retained in adjusted position by a screw II8.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a self-alining bearing, a shaft having a spherical portion intermediate the ends thereof and ducts extending through the end portions to the periphery of the spherical portion of the shaft, a source of supply of lubricant connected to certain of said ducts to deliver lubricant to the periphery of the spherical portion, and a bearing member having a bearing surface corresponding to the curvature of the spherical portion of the shaft and mounted on said spherical portion whereby the shaft and bearing member have retary and tilting movements relative to each other 'with a film of lubricant between the spherical portion and bearing member.

2. In a self-alining bearing as claimed in claim a series of annular grooves in said periphery of the spherical portion concentric to the lubricant delivery end of each duct of the ducts connected to the source of supply of lubricant and said annular grooves connected in communication with each other and said delivery ends to distribute the lubricant to the bearing surfaces between the spherical portion of the shaft and the bearing member. 1

3. In a self-alining bearing as claimed in claim 2, an annular member secured to each side of the bearing member and having lubricant sealing engagement with the spherical portion of the shaft and a lubricant collecting chamber therein.

4. A self-aiming bearing as claimed in claim 3, wherein a duct of the ducts in the shaft is arranged with inlet portions having enlarged inlet ends in the periphery of the spherical portion to communicate with and receive lubricant from the lubricant collecting chamber in the annular members.

5. In a self-aiming bearing as claimed in claim 4, a circumferential groove in the spherical por- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 554,451 Miller Feb. 11, 1896 1,622,136 Dworack Mar. 22, 1927 1,806,545 Ludwick May 19, 1931 1,908,269 Polmgren May 9, 1933 2,155,218 Cain Apr. 18, 1939 2,272,1 8 Inse Feb. 3, 1942 2,380,150 Collito July 10, 1945 

